Santa Sack Instructions

Here's the basic instructions for the Santa Sacks. Yes, this is definitely a beginner's sewing project.  If you can use an iron and sew in a straight line, you can do this. Sorry that I didn't make one of these specifically for the tutorial and so I don't have photos of every step. Hopefully it will make sense. If not, then be sure to comment and I will try to clear up any confusion. I will also post a "no-sew" option for these sacks separately.

Step 1 - Select Your Fabric:

Select your fabric. This may be the hardest part. :)  There are so many fun patterns to choose from. If you find a piece that you love but there isn't very much of it, you can use it for the trim at the top, so go ahead and buy it. 

Step 2 - Determine Size of Your Bag:

Measure your fabric.  Most fabric (in the United States) comes in 44"-45" widths.  We will just fold that width in half, so the bag will end up being about 21" wide when sewn.  You want to determine the length of your bag.  Most of mine vary from about 30" long to 36", but it really doesn't matter, as long as it is a rectangle shape and the length is longer than your width of 21" (when sewn).  

For the purpose of this tutorial & simplicity in reading, I will use the dimentions of a 32" length & a piece of 44" wide fabric.

Step 3 - Cut:

After you have determined your length, cut your fabric so that you now have a piece of fabric that measures 44" x 32". 

Step 4 - Adding a Different Fabric Trim Along the Top of the Bag: (optional)

If you want to add a different trim along the top of the bag, then cut a strip that is 16" wide x 44" wide (the width of the fabric.  These two photos (below) show that the top strip is a different pattern than the rest of the bag.  With right sides together, line up the raw edge (of the 44" width) and stitch a 1/2" seam to sew the two pieces together.  Press the strip away from the bag, pressing the seam towards the body of the bag. If you have a serger, you get to skip this step (and I will be envious.)

Optional: If you want to, you can reinforce the seams by stitching again either over the first stitching or a 1/4" from the first stitching.

Step 5 - Sewing the Main Body of the Bag:

With right sides together, fold the fabric in half & line up the raw edges so that you now have a piece of fabric that is 22" x 32".  (Be sure to match the seams at the edge of the top lining if you added that step). Pin one short edge and the long raw edge together. Start at the corner of the folded edge and sew along the short end and then the long side, leaving the top edge open.  You should now have the basic shape of a pillowcase. Press.

Step 6 - Stitching the Top of the Bag:

Press the top edge of the bag under 1/4" inch.  Fold the top edge under (wrong sides together) about 7-8" and press. 

If you added the optional contrasting trim at the top (step 4), then fold the trim so that it just slightly overlaps the raw edge of the seam.  If this part seems a bit confusing, go look at the top inside portion of one of your pillowcases. You will see how the top 8" or so is lined towards the inside with the raw edge neatly turned under.

Press the folded piece down, and pin so that the raw edge is covered (if you did that step) or simply pin it 7-8" from the top.  Topstitch 1/4" from edge. Turn the bag right-side out. You should now have a pillowcase. You're almost done!

Step 7 - Adding the Tie Closure- Several Options:

There's a couple of options here.

Option 1) You can purchase fabric ribbon and just tie the bag closed. Make sure you don't buy "wired" ribbon. I didn't want my ties to get lost, so I stitched them to the back of the bag in an "x" pattern. Hopefully you can see that in my photo.  If you do this, find the middle of your ribbon and the middle of the back of your bag and stitch just a small x to keep the ribbon from getting lost.  This is optional though. You could just tie the bags shut with ribbon and call it good.

Option 2) Ribbon can get costly, so I cut strips of leftover fabric in a contrasting material that were 4" x 44".  Then with right sides together, I folded the strip in half lengthwise and used a 1/4" seam to sew one short end and the long side together. Then I turned the strip right-side out.  Then I pressed the strip and folded the raw edge to the inside and top stitched all the way around the strip.  Then I found the middle of the strip and stitched it in the "x" to the middle of the outside of the back of the bag.

(Note: if you don't have a sewing tool to turn strips right-side out easily, this may not be the best option for you. It's a pain in the neck if you don't have the tool.) 

Option 3) If you don't have the turning tool and you don't want to invest in ribbon, you could cut a 3-4" wide strip of fabric and then use pinking shears along the edges so that it wouldn't fray.  Or you could even just stitch 1/4" from the sides and if it frays, it would just fray slightly, which may be a look that you prefer. Then you could still stitch it to the bag in the "x" pattern so that it stays with the bag.

That's it! You're all finished.  These bags can be made in any dimensions you'd like.  Hopefully they will relieve some stress for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve!!